Framing and trim arrangement for wall openings



July 3, 1962 F. E. PRICE FRAMING AND TRIM ARRANGEMENT FOR Filed July l, 1959 WALL OPENINGS BY mf nited States Patent 3,042,160 Patented July 3, 1962 Fice This invention relates to framings for Wall openings such asdoor and window openings and is especially concerned with a two-part frame of this nature.

`In the construction of buildings la rather difcult and expensive portion is the framing of the wall opening and the trimming thereof. Many prefabricated arrangements have been proposed but heretofore none have been commercially successful -or have gained wide acceptance in the art.

This is particularly true for low cost buildings such as dwellings and there is a Wide eld of application for a unit of this nature.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a framing arrangement for a wall opening which can readily and quickly be put in place.

Another object is the provision of a frame arrangement for Ia door or Window which is simpler and more inexpensive than frames heretofore provided.

A particular object of this invention is the provision of a simple basically metal two part frame for a Wall opening in which the major portion of the exposed metal is covered with Wood trim molding.

Another object is the provision of a frame for an opening such as a door or window which is readily adjustable to accommodate for variations in thickness of the wall in which it is placed.

A still further object is the provision of a yframe for `a door or the like in which the frame members are interlocked so that relatively rigid framing of the wall opening results.

These and other objects `and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view showing a door and window framed according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 on FIG- URE l showing a door frame in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing -a corner of the door frame or window frame;

FIGURE 4 is a plan sectional view through one side of the door frame;

FIGURE `5 is a perspective sectional view showing `a window frame according to their invention;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view showing one form of lall-metal door frame according to their invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view like FIGURE 6 showing yanother type of al1-metal door frame.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, in FIGURE l wall 10 has an opening therein closed by a door 12 which is hung in a frame 14.

Wall 16 has an opening closed by window means 18 mounted in a window frame 20.

The novel door frame -according to this invention will be seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 wherein it will be noted that the frame consists of a first L-shaped metal member 22 having one leg 24 engaging the face of the wall about the opening and another leg 26 extending into the opening adjacent the periphery thereof.

The frame comprises a second L-shaped metal member 28 having a first leg 30 engaging the face of the wall about the opening on the yside of the Wall opposite leg 24 and having `a second leg 32 extending into the opening in overlapping relation with leg 26.

A metal strip 34 having its one end doubled back as at 36 is attached to the back of leg 32 so as to yform a channel to receive the end of leg 26. The legs may be secured together by metal screws which can -be accommodated by holes drilled through the leg on the job site after the frame has been assembled in a wall opening. Such screws `are indicated at 38 in FIGURE 2. Wood screws 40 may `also be provided which extend through holes formed in the leg 26 and through slots 42 in strip 34 and into the studding 44 which defines the opening. The provision of the slots 42, and by dri-lling the holes for the metal screws on the job site the two frame parts can be adjusted to accommodate for variations in wall thickness.

While the metal members themselves Ladequately frame the opening, it is preferred for there to be strips of trim molding 46 attached to legs 24 and 30 -as by concealed wood screws 48. Where the described frame is for the purpose of receiving a door, a strip of molding 50 is provided on the end of leg 32 to form a door stop and is retained thereon by screw 52.

In order to interlock the side parts of the door frame with the head piece 54, one of the legs corresponding to leg 26 or leg 32 is continued from the head piece on around the corner into the side ymember of the frame while the other leg of the side frame is continued upward'ly `and laterally so that these legs interlock and hold the frame parts xed relative to each other. The leg parts of the head member and side members of the frame that extend over the face of the wall are mitered as at 56 at the corners of the frame.

By the described arrangement a door opening can be framed quickly and inexpensively and the frame is of such a nature that it will readily adjust to accommodate for variations in wall thickness.

The same general idea as set forth above is illustrated in FIGURE 5 which shows the window frame in section 20. In this figure there are two frame members 60 and 62 which `are arranged in the window opening with one leg of each frame member extending over the face of the wall and with the other legs 63 thereof extending into the opening in overlapping relation. The lscrews 64 hold the frame in place in the window opening and one of the legs of the lframe members in the opening is provided with means for supporting a closure, said means comprising the guideways 66 that slidably receive windows 18, which may be made up of individual elements secured together and to the frame, or they may be extrusion secured to the frame or even formed integral therewith. In the outside of the Window frame there may be grooves to receive caulking as at 67 in FIG- URE 5.

As will be seen in 'FIGURE 5, the frame member- 68 across the bottom of the window may be arranged to provide for a sill 70 which may be integral with the metal member `or which may be in the form of a platform for receiving a sill member.

The frames referred to are adjustable to accommodate for variations in wall thickness and as to variations laterally in the frame, this can be compensated for with either the door frame or the Window frame by utilizing shim members, as at 72 in FIGURE 4, on either one or both `sides of the frame in order to provide firm support on all sides of the frame.

It will be understood that the trim molding 46 could be held in place with nails and that these nails could extend through the outer legs of the frame members and thus `assist in holding the frame in place in the opening.

The frames above described Iall are shown with wood moldings but the `frames could be all metal as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 wherein the metal frame members, as will be seen from the frame member illustrated in FIGURE 6, could have the trim portion 82 integral therewith. yPortion 82 is rolled under as `at 84 for stitfening purposes anda nail 86 may hold the trim portion against the Wall.

FIGURE 7 is like FIGURE 6 except the trim portion 88 is not rolled under so far.

With most of the frame arrangement shown, the metal can be formed by rolling or bending but it wi-ll be understood that extrusions could also be employed. The outer frame member 62 of the Window frame, for example could have the portion 65 formed integrally therewith by extrusion or these members could be separately formed and be welded together.

It Will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable Iframe for a Wall opening, said frame comprising interlocking metal members consisting of a rst member and a second member and which are adapted for positioning in said Wall opening in overlapping engagement, said members being of L-shaped cross-section and each having irst and second leg portions, said rst leg portion ofY each member engaging the vface of said Wall opening and the second leg portion of each member extending into the opening adjacent the periphery thereof in overlapping leg relation, a metal strip means having an end portion `doubled back on itself and which strip is secured to the back of the second leg portion of said second member and delining a channel therewith for snugly receiving the second leg portion of said rst member, said metal strip means having a slot therein for adjustably positioning said L-shaped members with respect to each `other to accommodate for variations in Wall thickness `at said opening, and attaching means extending through at least one of said leg portions and through the slot in said strip means and into the wall about said opening yfor securing said metal members to each other and to said wall.

2. An adjustable frame for a wall opening as set forth in claim l, in which said tirst leg of each of the L-shaped members comprises a trim molding secured theretofor concealing said legs and trimming the opening, said frame including a shim means `adapted for positioning in the space between said double backed strip and the periphery of said Wall opening in which said frame is mounted.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 385,233 Boda June 26, 1888 1,715,579 Thye June 4, 1929 1,926,673 Gregg Sept. 12, 1933 2,454,523 Philip Nov. 23, 1948 2,853,161 Mascari Sept. 23, 1958 2,913,777 Viets NOV. 24, 1959 

